Take a moment to leave the computer and go take a peek at the ingredients that are in your antiperspirant. Aluminum zirconium, aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, parabens, propylene glycol, triclosan, TEA, DEA, FD&C colors, cyclopentasiloxane, and quaternium 18 may appear on the toxic ingredients list among others, of course. Some of these ingredients aren't foreign to us, as I've discussed them before in previous blog posts. The sad truth is, these ingredients pop up quite often in our personal care products. Most of us (I have been guilty of it, myself) don't even give it a second thought- that is, to look at the ingredients in our products and question their toxicity. Question- am I the only one who has accidentally managed to get deodorant in their eye? Somehow I had deodorant on my hand and must have rubbed my eye or something. If I'm not alone, you know that shit burns like an uncle and leaves your eyeball feeling powder fresh- an awful feeling to say the least. And yet, we slap it on our pits everyday- and not sparingly.

Your deodorant that claims to give you long-lasting freshness does just that. Well, almost. More like long-lasting toxicity. Most deodorants will list aluminum zirconium or some type of aluminum ingredient as the active ingredient. Excessive use of products containing aluminum can lead to accumulation of this poisonous neurotoxin in your body. Aluminum is known to mimic estrogen, as it has estrogen-like properties. For this reason, aluminum has been linked to breast cancer. In one research study, breast tissue was taken from 17 breast cancer patients. The tissue located nearest to where antiperspirant would be applied, contained higher levels of aluminum (Pendent). Other research has shown that Alzheimer's disease is linked to excessive exposure to aluminum. Abnormal amounts of aluminum have been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Furthermore, lab animals have developed a neurological disease much like Alzheimer's when given a brain injection of aluminum (Achooallergy.com). The thought of this makes me shutter, by the way. 

If we're being logical about it though, we already know that anything we do to prevent our bodies from doing what they do naturally is going to come with some repercussions in the long run. Yes, like rubbing synthetic shit under our armpits to prevent us from sweating. I use Arm & Hammer Essentials deodorant. It's free of aluminum and parabens. However, it does contain triclosan and propylene glycol. Again, I'm still a newbie to all of these changes. My initial thought was that I needed to find a deodorant without aluminum in it because I'm at risk for breast cancer, as it runs on the paternal side of my family. Those at risk are advised to avoid deodorants with aluminum in them. 

However, I have looked into homemade deodorant and completely natural alternatives. Check out some of the information below! You'll notice that my miracle ingredient, coconut oil, comes in handy once again. :]

Wellness Mama- DIY deodorant
Coconut oil deodorant stick- DIY 
Organic Authority- gettin pity with it
5 deodorant alternatives
Rosalee's natural deodorant recipe
Homemade deodorant

...Well not literally, but get coconut water in a carton. As I've mentioned before, I absolutely love the Rawforbeauty page on Facebook. The other day I came across a photo they posted, which talked about coconut water and all its wonderful benefits. I began drinking coconut water for its energy boosting properties. It's loaded with electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, cytokine, and phyto-hormones, and is often referred to as "nature's energy drink." So please, put down your nasty Red Bulls and Monster drinks- for my sanity and for your health, more importantly. 

Ditch the Gatorade, too. Up until recently Gatorade drinks included brominated vegetable oil, a synthetic chemical that has been patented in Europe as a flame retardent. It was used as a flavor emulsifier and helped to distribute that beautifully synthetic-looking color throughout the bottle. So sure, hydrate with Gatorade after a sinful night of drinking or after a beastmode workout at the gym if you're still not turned off by it entirely. Research shows that BVO may be stored in human tissue and can contribute to behavioral and reproductive issues linked to large doses of this synthetic chemical (Hsu, Los Angeles Times). While Gatorade has ditched BVO, it's safe to say there's nothing natural about what's in those bottles. If you're looking to get those electrolytes and hydrate safely, coconut water is your go-to.

If you read my blog, you understand by now that I love coconut-everything because of all the benefits this drupe has to offer. 

Coconut water benefits:
* Hydration
* Helps with digestion and metabolism
* Anti-aging, anti-carcinogenic, anti-thrombotic effects, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal
* Great source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates (Coconut Water Nutrition Facts)
* Breaks up kidney stones/is a kidney-cleanser (my favorite!)

Staying hydrated and flushing out your kidneys is tremendously important. While my kidney stones are caused by a hereditary condition and are unavoidable, kidney stones can form in anyone's kidneys if proper precautions aren't taken. If you're not susceptible to stones, I'm happy for you, truly. However, kidney stones form when substances found in the urine become highly concentrated. How do they become highly concentrated? These substances, such as calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus, become highly concentrated when a person isn't drinking enough to flush out their kidneys. 

Stones don't necessarily pass soon after they have formed. Some may reside in the kidney(s) for years before they are passed. Some may never leave the kidney(s) at all! One thing is certain, you'll know if you're passing a stone. Or, you'll think you're dying. The pain is unmistakable. I don't have children myself, but people I know who have experienced both child birth and kidney stone pain always say they'd rather go through child labor again than ever have another kidney stone. If I had to imagine what child labor feels like, I'd imagine it can't be worse than the pain I feel whenever I pass a stone. When a stone leaves the kidney it enteres into the ureter, (see picture above) which is literally the size of two human hairs put together. The stone makes its death journey through this tube (the worst part of this process) and enters into the bladder. The pain alone is nauseating and causes one to vomit violently until the pain is under control. Unfortunately, this means frequent doses of pain killer drugs and nausea medicine. It's critical to continuously drink fluids throughout this process to move the stone along. If the pain and nausea aren't under control, nothing you put down will stay down for long.

As a huge believer of energy medicine, I always turn to the sedating points on my body for whatever organ seems to be upset/causing problems. Without fail, it always works. Using energy medicine to sedate my kidneys is tremendously helpful when I feel like there is a fucking demon inside my body trying to stab its way out. No exaggeration whatsoever there. The picture above shows the sedating points on the right half of the image. Please note that someone would have to do this for you. The first two points are 1. on the bottom of your foot right next to the ball of your foot (center) and, 2. on the "inside" of the big toe. The next two points can be seen 1. on the side of your foot (right below where the metatarsal bone of your big foot protrudes) and, 2. right behind your ankle bone near your achilles tendon. 

Doctors will sometimes tell me to "stay ahead of the pain" by taking a dose of medication before the pain becomes unbearable again. By sedating my kidneys, I buy myself time and I don't have to take as many drugs. Even after a few days of taking pain killers (yes, the passing process may take days) I begin to get awful headaches, cold sweats, shakes, and experience dizziness, nausea, and ringing in my ears if I no longer *need* the medication. It's truly scary how little time it takes and how easy it is for our bodies to become used to something so harmful. 

So, my main point for this post is to make people aware of several things: 1. the benefits of coconut water, 2. kidney stones and how they form/how to prevent them, 3. the importance of hydration as it pertains to kidney stones, 3. energy medicine and sedation points. 

Check out some of the additional links I've provided below for more information on these topics. I could go on forever but hopefully what I've provided here will encourage you to do some research for yourself!

I finally tried oil pulling today! I've had every intention of doing it almost everyday for the past two weeks but it's so hard to find the time! I say that because it has to be done on an empty stomach. They say it's best to do oil pulling first thing in the morning for this reason. It's difficult to do in the morning before school because I almost always get up a half hour later than I usually want to, and let's be honest- I'm one of those people who wakes up and the first thought on my mind is breakfast. I'm such a breakfast person. So I had breakfast and then went shopping for about 4 hours. I was starving when I got home but I knew I had to take advantage of the fact that there was nothing in my belly. 

Since I have a cold, I figured it would be the perfect time to try it. I'm secretly convinced I have a sinus infection and I should really be staying away from antibiotics at all costs. Oil pulling seemed like the best solution. I have to admit, initially it was pretty gross. I used 100% organic extra virgin coconut oil, (although other oils may be used) which is solid until heated- in this case, by the temperature inside my mouth. Trying to push/pull solid coconut oil through my teeth until it turned to liquid was nauseating to say the least. This is part of the reason why it's best to oil pull on an empty stomach. I swished the coconut oil through my teeth for a total of 20 minutes. When I was finished, I rinsed my mouth with warm salt water. The time went by fast because I distracted myself by researching all the wonderful things that were occurring in my mouth at that point in time. 

Oil pulling has so many awesome benefits:
* Whiter/brighter teeth & gums
* Overall improvement in oral health- heals tooth and gum decay, receding gums, tooth aches, oral infections, and gum disease (gingivitis) 
* Treats/prevents bad breath
* Prevents cavities
* Strengthens teeth
* Heals joint pain
* Heals chronic sinusitis 
* Helps PMS, migraine headaches, asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue, arthritis, and diabetes 
* Helps heal chronic skin problems- acne, eczema, & psoriasis 
* Makes skin soft and smooth
* Heals inflammation in the body
* Strengthens/supports immune system health
* Heals bleeding gums

How does it work? Oil pulling pulls all the bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and their toxins from the mouth as the oil gets swished around in the mouth. Oil pulling is a method of detoxification and if done regularly, one will see results rather quickly. Some results can be noticed instantly. However if someone uses oil pulling as a means to heal a more chronic condition, it may take weeks to months to see a drastic improvement. Improvement WILL happen nonetheless! Be sure NOT to swallow the oil, as it contains all the gross shit you're trying to expel from your body. If you are nauseated by the process or feel as though you cannot continue to oil pull any longer, spit it out and start over. Yes, you have to start over, which is why I focused on something else to pass the time rather than staring at myself in the mirror. It helps to keep the oil toward the front of your mouth. Under no circumstances should you attempt to gargle with it- unless purging is your favorite past time, which it isn't...for anyone.

You will notice that when the 20 minutes is up, the oil will take on a white-ish color from all the grossies it has collected. If this is not the case, you haven't pulled long enough. Also be aware that because you have to pull for 20 minutes, the process should be slow and effortless. If your jaw starts to hurt, you're not doing it correctly (Fife, 2012). Some websites say 10-20 minutes, but if you're looking for results you're going to pull for 20 regularly. However, if the oil pulling process is difficult for you, it may be best to pull for 10 minutes and increase the duration of your pulling as you get used to it overtime. Generally, most people report that oil pulling is gross the first few times, but that it's very easy to get used to the process. 

I will admit that some of the research I did AFTER my first oil pulling experience explained that the oil should NOT be spit out into the sink. Oops. It's best to spit it into a trash can or toilet, as it can solidify and clog the drain in your sink. My b. Anyways, overall I'm very pleased with my first oil pulling experience. I don't have as much sinus pressure and I could feel my sinuses beginning to clear as I was pulling. So, it's not just a bunch of bull I promise! Check out the links below for additional information on oil pulling. If you try it, be sure to comment on this post and share if it was effective for you! Happy healing, all :] 

So it's clearly been a few days since my last post. I could tell you that I've been recovering from carpel tunnel after those last few blog posts and I'm sure it would be believable to many. However, I've just been super busy and worn out with a head cold. Last time I had a head cold it was more difficult to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've reintroduced some of those go-to items for the common cold- like herbal tea and honey. I use organic brands of herbal tea and I purchase raw, local honey. Eating local honey is also helpful for those of you who get awful seasonal allergies. This is because the bees that pollinate the flowers in your area transfer some of that pollen into their honey. In turn, consuming that local honey helps you to build up an immunity to the pollen. 

Anyway, back when I was unable to curl up with my echinacea tea and honey, I had to find an alternative. I wouldn't find an alternative on the shelves at my local drugstore, as I'm advised to avoid over the counter medication unless I'm in dire need of it. I would find my alternative in the motherland- Whole Foods, or as some call it, Whole Pay Check. But really, it's a Heaven on Earth for people like me. I found Hyland's Defense Sinus homeopathic medication, which is dye, alcohol, and sugar free, and contains 100% natural ingredients. I still use it because it really does work. I just put 3 small tablets under my tongue to dissolve and in no time, I feel so much better. 

**SIDE NOTE- your Emergen-C contains GMOs. Well, 75% of products on store shelves do, but I wanted to share this because Emergen-C was always my go-to in the past. 

Check out the links below for more information on natural and home remedies for colds and the flu.

16 Herbal teas and health facts
Natural, effective remedies for colds and flu
Home remedy
Blogger's post about natural home remedies 
Hot Toddy recipe 
USDA certified organic cold medicine for kids
Nature's flu shots

I just recently started following this awesome Like page on Facebook, Rawforbeauty. I am in love with all the inspirational quotes and health-related facts they share with their followers. Definitely check them out! Here's a brief peek at some of my favorite info they have shared. Also visit their website! www.rawforbeauty.com :]

ALSO, (as I have said before) if you are sensitive to any of the foods/ingredients for natural remedies/purposes shown below, know that they probably aren't the right choice for you. For example, as wonderful as grapefruit sounds, I wouldn't use it for any of the listed benefits, as it would have an adverse effect on my body. Choose your ingredients wisely.

Click on each picture individually for a larger view.

So last night I sat down with a dear friend and told him all about the Non-GMO Project and everything I posted in yesterday's blog post. He asked, "is there an..." and I cut him off mid-sentence to gladly share that, yes, there is an app for the Non-GMO Project- and it's FREE! I came home from work this afternoon to find this picture (sent from my friend) in my FB inbox. In his search to find the Non-GMO Project app, he came across THIS great app! Buycott allows you to scan items with your phone and will show you the items' affiliations with other companies and, more importantly, their contributions to the GMO labeling movement. Check it out :]

Today's topic goes out to all of you with a sweet tooth, particularly an artificial sweetener tooth. So yesterday, as I happened to pass by one of my windows, I caught a glimpse of my father chugging a Coca-Cola outside after some yard work. This was his idea of a refreshing beverage. As soon as I saw that sinful red can hit his lips, I whipped the sliding glass door open and yelled, "PUT THAT DOWN, GET A WATER, COKE HAS ASPARTAME IN IT!" He laughed at me and then obnoxiously proclaimed, "it tastes delicious." My response: "your ORGANS don't think so!" But really, I thought about it, and I was like- "nice argument, self, but do you even know what the fuck aspartame is?" I didn't. I just knew that it could cause cancer- like so many other things we put in or on our bodies. Today's post is brought to you by: the poor beverage selection made by my loved one.

Aspartame is the technical name for artificial sweeteners such as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal Measure. Is it comforting to know that aspartame was discovered by accident? Some genius, James Schlatter, was running a test for an anti-ulcer drug (ironic) when ta-dah, aspartame made its debut- a discovery that set this decades long catastrophe in motion. In my research I found that aspartame is responsible for over 75% of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. The most serious reactions are seizures and even death.

Please note that aspartame is NOT just found in sodas. It can also be found in yogurt, sugar-free everything, chips, chewing gum, cereals, flavored waters, cough drops, kids' vitamins, Jello, cooking sauces, a lot of diet foods (including Weight Watchers brand)....the list goes on.

Some of the documented symptoms caused by aspartame include:
* headaches/migraines
* muscle spasms
* irritability
* heart palpitations
* Tinnitus
* dizziness
* weight gain
* Tachycardia
* breathing difficulties
* Vertigo
* rashes
* insomnia
* depression
* anxiety attacks
* memory loss
* vision problems
* slurred speech
* joint pain
* fatigue
* hearing loss
* loss of taste

....just a small list. Other research has shown that certain chronic illnesses can be brought on or made worse by consuming aspartame: brain tumors, Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Multiple sclerosis, Epilepsy, Lymphoma, Chronic fatigue syndrome, birth defects, Parkinson's disease, and Fibromyalgia.

So, what is aspartame? Well, it's a few things. Aspartame is composed of aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol.

What you need to know about aspartic acid: It's 40% of aspartame. Too much aspartate can kill certain neurons in the brain, which allows an influx of too much calcium into the cells. This causes an excessive amount of free radicals in the brain, which kill cells. When this type of damage caused by excessive aspartate (and/or glutamate as well), they are referred to as "excitotoxins." Long-term exposure to this excitatory amino acid can contribute to chronic illnesses such as MS, ALS, memory loss, hormonal problems, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, hypoglycemia, dementia, brain lesions, and neuroendocrine disorders.

What you need to know about phenylalanine: It's difficult to pronounce. It's 50% of aspartame. Also, it's an amino acid found in the brain. High levels of phenylalanine in the brain can be lethal to some. Specifically, people with the genetic disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU), are at exceptionally high risk as they cannot metabolize phenylalanine. Even those without PKU can have dangerously high levels of phenylalanine in their brains, especially if aspartame is consumed along with carbohydrates. High levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause serotonin levels to drop, thus causing emotional disorders such as depression. 

What you need to know about methanol (a.k.a wood alcohol): 10 % of aspartame, it's a deadly poison- joy! Who wouldn't want this in their refreshing beverage after a long day of yard work? Methanol absorption is sped up when free methanol is consumed. Free methanol is created when aspartame is at a temperature above 86 Fahrenheit. This would happen if a product containing aspartame was improperly stored somewhere or left in the sun- you know, on those beautiful, hot, summer days at family cookouts. Methanol is broken down into formic acid and formaldehyde (a carcinogen) in the body. Methanol is a cumulative poison, as there is a low rate of excretion once it is absorbed (Mercola, Mercola.com). 

PS quote in the picture above was a statement made by a Monsanto spokesperson. Impressive. Next question- aaaand how do you sleep at night? :]

The recommended limit of methanol consumption is 7.8 mg/day. 1 liter of an aspartame-sweetened beverage contains an astounding 56 mg of methanol. Think of this next time those stupid dancing polar bears taunt you into reaching for a Coke. 

Today I want to talk a bit about GMOs, the Non-GMO project, and the Non-GMO Shopping Guide. For more in-depth information click the links I provide in the text. Here I go...

What is a GMO? According to the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, "GMOs are genetically modified organisms made by forcing genes from one species, such as bacteria, viruses, animals, or humans, into the DNA of a food crop or animal in order to introduce a new trait." Sounds positively scrumptious.

Not-so-fun facts: As stated by the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, here are just a few of many combinations that have been tried...
* Spider genes were inserted into goat DNA with the hope that goats' milk would contain the spider web protein. This protein would be used in bullet proof vests.
* Jelly fish genes lit up pigs' noses in the dark
* When potatoes needed watering, they glowed in the dark
* Cow genes turned pigskin into cowhides 

Health risks associated with GM food:
- Infertility
- Immune problems
- Accelerated aging
- Faulty insulin regulation
- Changes in major organs and gastrointestinal system. 

How do we avoid GMOs? 
1. Look for that beautiful USDA certified organic stamp of approval I love so much. 100% organic products cannot intentionally contain any GMO ingredients. You may also buy products that say "organic" or "made with organic ingredients" but in my opinion, it's best to look for the USDA certified label. 
2. Look for the Non-GMO Project Seals. The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit dedicated to providing consumers with explicitly labeled and verified Non-GMO products. They also test those at-risk ingredients. The Non-GMO Project verifies for individual products, not an entire brand.

What do you mean, "at-risk ingredients?"
Well, unless a product is both organic and Non-GMO verified, products may be made with with ingredients that are derived from GMOs. There are 8 GM food crops: corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, papaya from China or Hawaii (most) and a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash. Also be aware that GM alfalfa is fed to livestock. 

Here's some food for thought- literally:
If a non-organic product made in the USA lists "sugar" as one of the ingredients and NOT "pure cane sugar," you can bet that it is almost always a combo of sugar from sugar cane and GM sugar beets. Also, dairy products may be from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone. rbGH is manufactured by those bastards, Monsanto, and sold to dairy farmers. The hormone is injected into the cows to boost milk production by 10%. As a result, the cows are put at increased risk for mastitis, lameness, and reproductive complications. If your dairy products are not labeled "organic" or have that Non-GMO Project Seal on them, be sure to look for labels that state "No rbGH, rbST, or artificial hormones."

So, now we know that to avoid GMOs you need to buy organic, look for the Non-GMO Project Seals, and avoid at-risk ingredients. One last tip for avoiding GMOs: use the Non-GMO Shopping Guide! Just like everything else in our lives today, there IS an app for that. Check it out if you have an iPhone. I wouldn't be a very good detective if I didn't provide you with some brand name alternatives, would I? The thing is, you must remember as I said earlier- Non-GMO Project verifies products individually and not by brand. Most or all of the products for the brands I will list are Non-GMO Project verified. It's up to you to check specific products using the Non-GMO Shopping Guide. :]

Alternative Dairy Products: 365, Almond Dream, Amande, Blue Diamond, Coconut Secret, Dream Blends, Earth Balance, Eden, Field Day, Follow Your Heart, Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Good Karma, Growing Naturals, Honey Melt, Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss, Mori-Nu, Nancy's, Native Forest, Organic Valley, Pacific Natural Foods, Purely Decadent, Rella, Rice Dream, Rich and Creamy Melt, Sambazon, Silk, Simply Soy Yogurt, So Delicious Dairy Free, Soy Dream, Soy Kiss, Soyatoo, Tempt, Tree of Life, Truwhip, Wayfare, WestSoy, WholeSoy & Co.

Baby Foods and Infant Formulas: Earth's Best, Happy Baby Retort Pouches, HAPPYBABY Pouches, HAPPYTOT, Little Duck Organics, NurturMe, Oh Baby Foods, Organic Baby, Plum Organics

Beverages: 365, Ayala's Herbal Water, Bhakti Chai, Blue Diamond, Botan, Bragg, C+Swiss hemp ice tea, Cadia, Califia Farms, Choice Organic Teas, Coco Hydro, Cocozia, Cuties Juice, Earth Balance, Eco Teas, Essential Living Foods, Inc., Ex Drinks, Field Day, Flax USA, Froovie, Garden of Life, Golazo, Good Karma, Guayaki, Haiku, Harvest Bay, Hemp Oil Canada, High Country Kombucha, It Tastes Raaw, Kiju, Mamma Chia, Meijer Naturals, North Coast, Numi Organic Tea, Nutivia, One Natural Experience, One World, Pacific Natural Foods, Paisley Tea Co, Palo Root Tea, Righteously Raw, Sambazon, SANS All Natural, Soda, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free, Stash Tea, Suja Juice, Superberries, Tempt, The Republic of Tea, Traditional Medicinals, Tree of Life, Two Leaves Tea Company, WingFoot, Wisdom of the Ancients, Zevia 

Body Care: Andalou Naturals, Desert Essence, Dr. Arenander's BrainGain & Oral Care Formulas, Dr. Bronner's Magic, EO, HimalaRose, Naked Coconuts, Nature Way, Sunfood Superfoods

Breads and Baked Goods: 365, Alvarado Street Bakery, Annies, Barbara's, Berlin Natural Bakery, Boulangerie Nantaise, Buenatural, CaveChick, Country Choice Organic, EatPastry, Emmy's Organics, Ener-G Foods, Enjoy Life Foods, Gabbi's, Genius by Glutino, Ginnybakes, Gluten Free Pantry by Glutino, Glutino, Hodgson Mill, Hol-Grain, HomeFree, LLC, Immaculate Baking, Ines Rosales, Lillabee Allergy Friendly Baking, Lucy's, Mac-n-Mo's, Marge's Bakery, Maria & Ricardo, Martha's All Natural, Mary's Gone Crackers, Meijer Naturals, Mighty-O Donuts, Mt Vikos, One Degree Organic Foods, Ozery Bakery, Plum Organics, Purely Elizabeth, Q.bel, Rudi's Organic Bakery, Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery, Skinny Dipper, Smart Grain, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, Tasty Brand, The Pure Wraps, Tree of Life, Tumaro's, Wholesome Chow

Candy, Chocolate & Sweeteners: 365, AH!LASKA, Alter Eco, Annie's, Ciao Bella Gelato, Ciranda, Coconut Republic, Coconut Secret, Crispy Cat, Endangered Species Chocolate, Ener-G Foods, Enjoy Life Foods, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Gin Gins, GoOrganic/GoNaturally, Grain Place Foods, Hail Merry, Himalania, Immaculate Baking, Kur Organic Superfoods, Let's Do..., Licious Organics, Lily's Sweets, Lundberg Family Farms, Madhava, Meijer Naturals, Multiple Organics, Naked Coconuts, NATVIA, NibMor, NOW Foods, NOW Real Food, NuGo, Pyure Brands, Rapunzel, Righteously Raw, Rigoni di Asiago Honey, Stretch Island Fruit Co, Sun Cups, Sunfood Superfoods, SunRidge Farms, Surf Sweets, SweetLeaf, Tempt, Theo Chocolate, Tree of Life, Tru Joy Sweets, Two Moms in the Raw, Vega, VerMints, Vivapura, Wholesome Chow, Wholesome Sweeteners, Woodstock

Cereals & Breakfast Bars: 365, Annie's, Arrowhead Mills, Bakery On Main, Barbara's, Chez Marie, Country Choice Organic, Crofters, Earth's Best, Eden, Emmy's Organics, Enjoy Life Foods, Envirokidz, Erewhon, Farm to Table Foods, Field Day, Glutino, Hail Merry, Hodgson Mill, Hol-Grain, Kashi, KIND Healthy Snacks, Lillabee Allergy Friendly Baking, Lundberg Family Farms, Martha's All Natural, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Muesli Munch, Nature's Path, Nutiva, Nuts about Granola, Old Wessex, OMG Foods Inc, Peace Cereal, Plum Organics, Prana Foods, PROBAR, Purely Elizabeth, Ruth's Foods, Sam Mills, Sambazon, Shortstacks, Stark Sisters Granola, Tasty Brand, Two Moms in the Raw, Uncle Sam, Upfront Foods, Van's Natural Foods, Vigilant Eats, Weetabix, Wholesome Chow, Willamette Valley, Woodstock

Condiments, Oils, Dressings, & Spreads: 365, Annie's, Atlantic Organic, Aura Cacia, Bainter Extra Virgin Sunflower Oil, Barney Butter, Bragg, Bridgewell Resources, Bubbies, Cadia, California Olive Ranch, Casa Martinez, Cedar's, Chosen Foods, CHS Oilseed Processing, Ciranda, Coconut Secret, Cocopura, Crofters, Drew's LLC, Earth Balance, Eden, Emerald Valley Kitchen, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Field Day, Fiordifrutta, Follow Your Heart, Freeline Organic Food, Garden of Life, Gingras XO, Global River, Green Mountain Gringo, Harvest Bay, Hemp Oil Canada, Himalania, HimalaSalt, Home Appetit, JaynRoss Creations LLC, Jeff's Naturals, Koyo, La Tourangelle, Loeb's, Lundberg Family Farms, Manitoba Harvest, Macaroni Naturals, Marinelli's True Italian Pasta Sauce, Manukan, Manukome USA, Mauy Maid, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Miso Master, Montana Specialty Mills, LLC, Mt Vikos, Naked Coconuts, Napa Valley Naturals, Nathan's, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. (NS), Nature Way, New Organics, Nexcel Natural Ingredients, Nutiva, Oleicus/Oleico, Once Again, Outta the Park, Pastorelli Italian Chef, Peanut Butter & Co., Rapunzel, Rivara, Riverina Oils, Salba, Salute Santel!, San-J, SK Food, Soyaboo, Spectrum, Spectrum Ingredients, Stubbs, Sunfood Superfoods, Sushi Sonic, Swan Gardens, Tempt, Three Farmers, Tree of Life, Tropical Traditions, TruWhop, Vega, Viterra, Whole Foods Market, Whole Harvest, Woodstock, Yamasa, Ziggy Marley Coco'Mon, Ziggy Marley Hemp Rules

Fruits & Veggies (canned & frozen): 365, Bare Fruit, Cadia, Cal-Organic Farms, Cape Cod Select, Central Market Organics, Eden, Emerald Cove, Emperor's Kitchen, Enjoy Life Foods, Essential Living Foods, Inc., Farmer's Market, Field Day, Fruit Bliss, Funky Monkey Snacks, Grain Place Foods, Grimmway Foods, Himalania, Houwelling's Tomatoes, Imperial Gourmet, Intiyan, JaynRoss Creations LLC, Little Duck Organics, Mary's Little Garden, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Multiplus Organics, Nature's All Foods, North Coast, Numi Organic Tea, One Degree Organic Foods, Peggy's Premium, Reese, Sacha, SeaSnax, Stahlbush Island Farms, Sunfood SUperfoods, SunRidge Farms, Sunset, Sunset Kids, Superberries, The Pure Wraps, Tree of Life, Vivapura, Wild Veggie, Wildbrine, Woodstock

Grains, Beans, & Flours: 365, Agricor Inc, Alter Eco, Ariven Planet, Arrowhead Mills, Autumn Sky Wild, Barlean's Organic Oils, Beanitos the Bean Chips, Bora Bora, Cadia, Cheweco Organics, Chosen Foods, Ciranda, Coconut Secret, Country Choice Organic, De la Estancia, Della, Eden, Ener-G Foods, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Fantastic World Foods, Field Day, Freekehlicious, GL Soybeans, Gluten Free Pantry by Glutino, Grain Place Foods, Green Island Rice, Hemp Oil Canada, Hodgson Mill, Hol-Grain, Jaali Bean, Kamut, Konriko, Lillabee Allergy Free Baking, Lotus Foods, Lundberg Family Farms, Manitoba Harvest, Meijer Naturals, Mighty Rice, Minsa, Minsley, Multiple Organics, MXO Global, Naosoap Harvest, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (NS), Nature's Express, NOW Real Food, Nutiva, One Degree Organic Foods, Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative, Plum Organics, President's Choice, RiceSelect, Rivara, Sage V Foods, Salba, Salute Sante!, Simple Origins, SK Food, Stahlbush Island Farms, Stone Buhr Flour Company, Tree of Life, truRoots, Vivapura, Western Foods, WholesomeChow, Woodstock, Yoga

Herbs Spices & Other Ingredients: 365, A. Vogel, Cheweco Organics, D & A, Don's Chuck Wagon, Dr. Arenander's BrainGain & Oral Care Formulas, Emperor's Kitchen, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Farmer's Market, Field Day, Frontier, Himalania, SimalaSalt, Hol-Grain, Konriko, LECICO, Mediterranean Organic, Meijer Naturals, Miso Master, Multiple Organics, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (NS), Numi Organic Tea, Nutiva, Rapunzel, Ruth's Foods, Sunfood Superfoods, Sushi Sonic, Whole Pantry, Woodstock

Meat, Fish, & Eggs: 365, Fairfield Specialty Eggs, Field Day, Giving Nature, Ian's, Keller Crafted Meats, Mary's Chicken, Mary's Duck, Mary's Geese, Mary's Heritage Turkey, Mary's Organic Chicken, Mary's Organic Pasture Raised Chicken Eggs, Mary's Organic Turkey, Mary's Turkey (I think it's safe to say Mary's got what ya need.) Mindful Meats, Natural Sea, Nature Fed, NestFresh, Pure Country Pork Inc., Tonnino, Tree of Life

Packaged/Frozen Meals: A Moveable Feast, Artisan Bistro, Bold Organics, Earth's Best, Field Day, Fry Group Foods, Health is Wealth, Helen's Kitchen, Hilary's Eat Well, Hodgson Mill, Indianlife, Lundberg Family Farms, Minsley, Naked Pizza, Nature's Express, PJ's Organics, Prana Foods, Qrunch Foods, Red's All Natural, Rising Moon Organics, Saffron Road, Sambazon, Smart Grain, Sol Cuisine, Sophie's Kitchen, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, The Pure Wraps, Tree of Life, White Mountain Foods

Pasta: Annie's, Eden, Field Day, Hodgson Mill, House Foods, Koyo, Minsley, MXO Global, Organic Planet, Rising Moon Organics, truRoots

Pet Products...Because they matter too!!: Brad's Raw 4 Paws, HealthForce, Nutritionals, Nummy Tum Tum, Scratch and Peck

Snack Food & Bars: 365, Angie's Artisan Treats, Annie's, Arrowhead Mills, Attune Foods, Bakery on Main, Barbara's, Bare Fruit, Beanfields, Beanitos The Bean Chips, Bites of Bliss, Bora Bora, Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, Brad's Leafy Kale, Brad's Raw Chips, Brad's Raw Crackers (Maybe he and Mary should date...) Cabo Chips, Cadia, CaveChick, Central Market Organics, Chunks O' Fruti, Cool-Cups, CrispRoot, Crispy Cat, cruncha ma*me, Crunchmaster, Deli-catessen, Doctor in the Kitchen, Earth's Best, EatPastry, Eatsmart, Eden, Edward & Sons, Engine 2, Enjoy Life Foods, Envirokidz, Erewhon, Essential Living Foods, Inc, Field Day, Flamous Organics, Freeline Organic Food, Fruit Bliss, Funky Monkey Snacks, Garden Bar, Garden of Eatin', Gin Gins, Ginnybakes, Glutino, Gnu Foods, GoMarco, Inc, Good Boy Organics, Good Health Natural Foods, GoPicnic, Grain Place Foods, Green Mountain Gringo, Hail Merry, Haute Cuisine, Hemp Oil Canada, Hi I'm Skinny, Himalania, Hol-Grain, HomeFree, LLC, Jolly Llama, Journey Bar, Kate's, Kavli, Krette Foods, KIND Healthy Snacks, Kiwa, Koyo, Kur Organic Superfoods, La Tolteca, Lassens, LesserEvil, Let's Do...,Licious Organics, Lucy's, Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss, Lundberg Family Farms, Manitoba Harvest, Marge's Bakery, Mariner Biscuit Company, Mary's Gone Crackers, Mediterranean Organic, Mediterranean Snacks, Meijer Naturals, Mt Vikos, Multiple Organics, My Chi Delights, NatureCrops, Nature's Path, Nejaime's, Niagara Natural, NuGo, Nutiva, Off the Cob, Ozery Bakery, Pan De Oro, Peace Cereal, Plum Organics, Popcorn Indiana, PROBAR, Pure, Quinn Popcorn, Real Foods Manufacturing USA, Route 11, Righteously Raw, RW Garcia, Saffrom Road, Salba, Sally's Smart  Foods, SeaSnax, Sharkies, Simple Squares, Simply 7 Snacks, Skout, Snyder's of Hanover, Somersault Snack Co., LLC, Squarebar, Starbar, Stretch Island Fruit Co, Sunfood Superfoods, SunRidge Farms, Tacupeto Chips and Salsa, Taste of Nature, Tasty Brand, The Better Chip, The Simply Bar, Tiny But Mighty, Tree of Life, truRoots, Two Moms in the Raw, Van's Natural Foods, Vega, Veggie-Go's, Venus, Way Better Snacks, Whole Alternatives, Woodstock, Wylde, Yogavive, Ziggy Marley Hemp Rules

Soups & Sauces: 365, Amy's Kitchen, Arrowhead Mills, Basic Food Flavors, Inc., Brand Aromatics, Cadia, Dave's Gourmet, David's Unforgettables, Eden, Emmy's Organics, Field Day, Imagine, Jaali Bean, Koyo, Marinelli's True Italian Pasta Sauce, Marukome USA, Meijer Naturals, Momo's, Mrs. Renfro's, North Coast, Numi Organic Tea, Rapunzel, Rising Moon Organics, San-J, Tree of Life, Victoria, Wild Veggie, Woodstock, Yamasa

Tofu, Tempeh, & Alternative Meat Products: 365, Chez Marie, ecoVegan, Follow Your Heart, Fresh & Easy, Helen's Kitchen, Hilary's Eat Well, House Foods, Lightlige, Metabolic Response Modifiers (MRM), Mori-Nu, Nasoya, Nature's Express, Qrunch Foods, Saffrom Road, Sol Cuisine, Sophie's Kitchen, Sunshine Burger, Sweet Earth Natural Foods, Tofurkey, Tree of Life, Turtle Island Foods, Viana, Wayfare, WestSoy, White Mountain Foods, WIldwood, Woodstock

Vitamins & Supplements: Barlean's Organic Oils, Cando Natural Products, Chosen Foods, Ciranda, Coral LLC, DDS Probiotics/UAS Laboratories, Doctor's Best, Dr. Arenander's BrainGain & Oral Care Formulas, Essential Living Foods, Inc., Flora, Fungi Perfecti, LLC, Garden of Life, GlucoLift, Green Gem, Growing Naturals, HealthForce Nutritionals, Herbal Zap, Immortality Alchemy, Lekithos, Manitoba Harvest, MRM, Naked Coconuts, Natural Vitality, Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (NS), Nature Built, Navitas Naturals, New Chapter, Nordic Naturals (brand I use for Cod Liver Oil) NOW Foods, Nutiva, Nutrigold, Oniya Organics, Powbab, Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems, Salba, Sambazon, Spectrum, Sunfood Superfoods, SunRidge Farms, Tempt, Traditional Medicinals, Tree of Life, Twinlab, Vega, Yummi Bears Organics (Non-GMO Shopping Guide, 2012).

Another one of my best friends, soul sisters, and roommates from college asked me a very important question today, which has sparked my interest and shall result in yet another blog post for today. She asked about Tarte cosmetics and whether they're actually organic/natural as they claim to be. So, I began my investigation. While the Tarte website features the words, "natural" and "naturally" several times, I was unable to find a list of the ingredients for any of the cosmetics they feature on the site. I would imagine that any brand known for its "natural" ingredients would flaunt them for the world to see. If you click on Tarte products to view them individually, there is a link next to the product that says "see all ingredients." Don't be fooled. I clicked on it for several products and the ingredients page was the same for each product with a picture of each ingredient: Amazonian clay, acai berry extract, acerola, vitamins A, C, E, goji berry extract, maracuja, mineral pigments, olive esters, peppermint oil, pomegranate, and rice bran wax.. At the bottom of the homepage, Tarte claims that their products are ALWAYS FORMULATED WITHOUT: parabens • mineral oil • phthalates • triclosan • sodium lauryl sulfate • synthetic fragrance • gluten. This is all great news, but if we're talking real life talk, there are FAR more than 8 unwanted/dangerous ingredients that can be found in cosmetics that claim to be "natural" or "organic."

In my search to find an appropriate image for this section of my blog I got lucky and came across an image of the Tarte Park Ave Princess Waterproof bronzer IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING. Extra lucky for me, the image shows all the wonderful ingredients! (Below the ALWAYS FORMULATED WITHOUT list, of course). While some of the ingredients were fine, others were listed with concerns when I searched them in EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. A few examples are listed below. Note that all "organ system toxicity" concerns are non-reproductive.

Dimethicone: Score=3 (Moderate hazard) concern: organ system toxicity
Iron Oxides: [inorganic chemicals] Score= 2 (Low hazard) concerns: enhanced skin absorption, organ system toxicity 
Titanium Dioxide: [inorganic compound] Score= 1-3 depending on use (Low-moderate hazard) concerns: possible human carcinogen
Polysorbate-20: Score=3 (Moderate hazard) concerns: organ system toxicity, contamination concerns
Lecithin: One of my sensitivities!! Score=3-4 (Moderate hazard) concern: contamination concerns 
Pentylene Glycol: There was limited information available on the cosmetic database, however I did find a source that claims that this synthetic humectant can also be used as a preservative and solvent. Yes, the word synthetic did appear in the previous sentence. Studies have shown that it can be a skin irritant, causing contact dermatitis.

It may be beneficial to look at other online sources for more information on these ingredients as they appear in cosmetics. As always, my best suggestion to everyone is simply to check all ingredients on your cosmetics before purchase.  

To answer my girl's question about Tarte cosmetics- are they organic/natural? Not by definition. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find that so many of the ingredients on the Park Ave Princess Bronzer packaging were considered "safe" even though I couldn't pronounce them. It goes to show that while it's important to look at the ingredients in cosmetics, it's also important to research them. Just because some ingredients sound super dangerous and cancer-causing, doesn't mean that they are!

Below are some links that provide information on USDA certification, fake and real organic/natural brands, and EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. Sadly, I will admit that while doing my research I found out that my Nature's Gate shampoo is a fa(h)king fraud. Again, I'm no expert! One day I'm telling you all about my "all natural" shampoo and the next day I'm cursing Nature's Gate. We lather, we learn. But I'm thrilled to find out that Dr. Bronner's is a trusted, certified organic brand. I use Dr. B for shower soap. 

Organic certification of cosmetics
USDA organic skin care
Badger Balm
A Bunch of Greens- USDA certified cosmetics
The Garden of Beauty- USDA Organic
A list of fakers and non-fakers
USDA Certified Organic Skin Care Companies

Also click the picture below to take a peek at the most harmful chemicals found in cosmetics and skin care products. 

Work Cited

"Coming Clean Campaign ." Organic Consumers Association . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2013. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm>.

So one of my best friends, soul sisters, and roommates from college turns 23 at the end of the month and naturally, I want to be there with her and the rest of our friends celebrating for the occasion. Again, this is another opportunity for me to "practice" being in a public, social situation where drinks, food, and a shit ton of dancing will be had. I did my homework and spoke to my nutritionist about possibly trying to reintroduce alcohol. Yes, alcohol. Initially we both thought that trying organic beer may be a good option, but the more I looked into the possibility, I found that if organic beer was not made with wheat, it was made with yeast. I went back and forth looking at this website and that, but without fail, there was always something (even in organic beer) that I couldn't have- like molasses and other random non-MRT tested ingredients. 

I began taking a peek at the possibility of reintroducing hard alcohol. To my surprise, I found that there are a lot of BOTH gluten and yeast free hard-alcohol options! RAPTURE! Some of the liquors included select brands of rum, vodka, gin, and bourbon. The general consensus is that it's important to buy domestic brands of hard alcohol, as it is the law that all domestic alcohol must be pasteurized and filtered. This is not necessarily the case in some countries overseas. If you choose to go with imported liquor, do your homework first! 

My liquor of choice has always been vodka. I've never particularly enjoyed any other kind of hard alcohol. Luckily for me, vodka is considered to be the purest of all hard liquors, so it's recommended for those of us who are extra sensitive and "thirsty." Apparently research also shows that vodka is least likely to give you a horrific hangover, which is always a plus. 

My guess is, I will probably reintroduce vodka. While Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is both a gluten and yeast free option, I personally don't think it goes well with anything other than Coke. I can't drink Coke, so that takes care of that. I can mix vodka (unflavored) with soda/seltzer water and some lemon or lime. It's important to go the unflavored route with so many sensitivities. If it's that big of an issue for you and you NEED your flavored beverage, always do your research to make sure it's free of your reactive ingredients. While my beverage of choice doesn't sound unbelievably tasty, I think I can make do. I plan to reintroduce alcohol a week before getting together with my friends just to see how my body handles the change. After three months without consuming so much as a sip of alcohol, I'm sure I'll be down for the count as soon as it hits my lips. 

I'm sharing a bunch of links that I found useful in my research. 

Celiac Sisters
Gluten free alcohol
Top 10 yeast free alcoholic drinks
Yeast free alcoholic beverages 
More yeast free alcoholic beverages
My gluten free USA
Gluten free for life- which ones are safe?
Gluten free booze
Gluten free beer
Gluten free ORGANIC beer

I had to do a lot of back-and-forth searching with my research. I'd find a gluten free brand of vodka and then research if it was yeast free, as well. A bit time consuming, yes, but extremely important! For those of you with fewer sensitivities it will be much easier to find something that works for you.